A new program called Community Access to Recovery launched Wednesday on the Seacoast. It allows people in crisis to go to police departments to get help, with no questions asked.

"A police officer will come to the lobby here at the police department or to the fire departments and meet with the person and take them to a meeting spot to meet with a recovery coach," Dover Capt. David Terlemezian said.

Police in some communities might contact Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, which opened in May.

"We operate off a calendar of activities, ranging from peer support meetings to yoga, meditation, resume-writing workshops -- anything that can help break down the barriers for people achieving long-term, successful recovery," said Sandy Coyle of Safe Harbor.

Recovery coach Kristina Goodwin said such a program might have made a difference for Mikey Fielder, her brother.

"My brother passed away from a heroin overdose in November, and it wasn't due to the fact that he didn't want to access treatment," Goodwin said. "There weren't a lot of options out there and ways to connect him to other options."

Officials said those seeking help can get connected to a recovery coach, who will help them navigate their options in less than an hour.

"Not everybody needs residential treatment, so we can get someone quickly into intensive outpatient, and if we plug them into recovery support that's available at Safe Harbor, I think we can go a long way in helping people," Coyle said.

Police departments in Dover, Portsmouth and Newmarket are participating in the program. People can seek help at the departments from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Officials said more departments will soon join the program, and they hope to be able to extend the hours.